The philosophy of Albyn Cottage is based on the recognition and respect of each child as an individual.  We believe that each child develops and reaches their individual milestones in their own time.  Children pass through stages of development and we must work towards fulfilling and extending their physical, emotional, social, language and cognitive needs as they reach towards their own developmental milestones.

Albyn Cottage will work closely with the community to integrate into our centre children with additional needs, including children of cultural and linguistic diversities, children with challenging behaviours and children of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

We believe that, in order for each child to reach their full potential, we must provide an environment that is suitable to their developmental needs.  We want each child to feel secure and loved, and that we respect and are responsive to their needs as well as being sensitive to their cultural and individual differences.  Our philosophy is based on the acceptance of our diverse society and the need for an anti bias curriculum.

Children learn through play, by experimentation, exploration, observation and interacting with those around them.  Through our Early Years Learning Framework, we are providing children with opportunities to play in a calm and relaxed environment, provide a flexible routine, offer more choices and freedom, allow more time and space, encourage spontaneous learning based on their own interests, participate in small group and individual experiences and to extend their learning through staff interaction.

Our philosophy is important in order to program and plan our curriculum based on children’s interests, strengths, needs and events within their environment.  This enables children space and opportunities to learn both in directed and non-directed play.

Parents/Guardians are the most powerful force in a child’s life.  Albyn Cottage will strive to work with families to best meet the children’s needs, strengths and interests.  Albyn Cottage will encourage family participation and involvement through our daily activities and centre events.

We acknowledge that each child is a unique human being who can contribute much to the enrichment of our lives as we can to theirs.

Albyn Cottage aims to prepare children for life’s challenges and to provide the highest quality care possible to ensure that each child feels that “Albyn Cottage” is a home away from home.


“Our philosophy was reviewed in March 2011 with consultation from staff and families”

Our fees are $65.00 per day.

The Child Care Benefit is available to assist families iwh tthe affordability of fees.  Enquiries to be made at Centrelink or Family and Community Services (FACS) 136150.

 

Our program is based on the Early Years Learning Framework. This involves programming based on the children's interests and is organised by spontaneous and planned activities through out the day. The children are able to choose between indoor and outdoor play and flow freely between activities. This allows and encourages children more freedom and choice and encourages independence.

The staff record daily activities in a daily diary, and parents are encouraged to read the diary on arrival every afternoon. Each child has a portfolio and this will contain some of their artwork and recordings of their development. These portfolios are available to parents to view, however are confidential and you are only able to view your child's portfolio.

Staff record children's development in a number of ways. Firstly they interact, play and observe the children and record the information and place it in your child's portfolio, this is then used to help plan our program.
Throughout the day we separate the children into two groups, each group has two teachers. This allows for quality interactions in smaller groups. The Pre School group participate in a school readiness program.

Small Group Times

Small group experiences are organised regularly on a daily basis. The children are taken to a quiet area for small group learning experiences. These include activities such as language, drama, cooking, numeracy, music, poetry and games.